College of Basic and Applied Sciences

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End date: 2009

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    Ghana
    (Beyond Food Production: The Role of Agriculture in Poverty Reduction, 2007) Al-Hassan, R.M.; Jatoe, J.B.D.
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    Issues in mobile learning in Ghana
    (Innovative Techniques in Instruction Technology, E-Learning, E-Assessment, and Education, 2008) Millham, R.
    Ghana, a sub-Saharan country, faces a crisis in trying to keep its population in step with a technologically-changing world. With limited funding, a dispersed population, and a shortage of lecturers, the ability to manage lifelong learning, as required by a rapidly-changing technological world, for its populace is difficult. In this research-in-progress paper, we propose distance education, notably mobile learning, as a solution to the need of lifelong learning and to the constraints of the existing educational institutions. We also examine some of the issues surrounding distance education. A survey of Ghanaians as to their preferences for curriculum and training in this area is briefly presented. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008.
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    Can ENSO help in agricultural decision-making in Ghana?
    (Climate Prediction and Agriculture: Advances and Challenges, 2007-01) Adiku, S.G.K.; Mawunya, F.D.; Jones, J.W.; Yangyouru, M.
    Rainfall variability has become a major agricultural issue in sub-Saharan Africa, especially since crop production is mainly rainfed. Irrigation technologies are expensive and their implementation is slow. Many researchers now believe that some understanding of the causes of rainfall variability would lead to measures that could be used to investigate reduction in total rainfall and/or drought effects. © 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
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    Apprenticeship System of ''Wayside'' Seamstresses From Selected Neighborhoods in Accra.
    (University of Ghana, 1997-10) Acquaah-Harrison, P.;
    The purpose of this study was to investigate the apprenticeship system of fifty seamstresses and fifty apprentices from Achimota, Legon and Madina neighbourhoods of Accra. A stratified sampling technique was used to select the respondents from these neighbourhoods. The respondents were interviewed by the researcher, using two separate structured questionnaires: One for the seamstresses and the other for the apprentices. A non-obtrusive observational guide was also used to evaluate teaching/learning interactions at the workshop. Frequency, percentage distribution and cross-tabulation were used to analyze the data. Fathers with low level of education endorsed apprenticeship for their daughters (Ref Appendix VI). The study revealed that the seamstresses were aged between 20 and 40. Their educational attainment ranged from primary six to university. Eighty-two percent had their professional training informally in kiosks while the rest either attended formal vocational training schools or had no formal training in sewing. The apprentices were aged between 15 and 33 years. The educational level of 90% of the apprentices ranged from primary to vocational school. Ten percent had had no formal education. An aspirant apprentice ought to be introduced to a seamstress by a respectable member of her family who would be the guarantor. Apprenticeship fees ranging from 020,000 to 0120,000 were paid for a period of two and a half years apprenticeship, in addition to six months service to sew with the trainer without being paid. The apprenticeship system was devoid of theory work, with an average of seven hours each day spent on some sewing activity. Teaching and learning were through demonstration by the seamstress, observation and practice by the apprentices who most of the time taught one another (peer teaching). Eighty-two percent of the seamstress taught the sewing of slit and kaba and casual wears and eighteen percent taught the sewing of wedding gowns in addition to slit and kaba, using the free hand method of cutting. End of apprenticeship was marked by a final examination. Eighty percent of the apprentices took the Ghana National Tailors/Dressmakers Association (GNTDA) examination. The rest were examined by their trainers who had not registered with the national association. A graduation ceremony was organized in each neighbourhood for the members of GNTDA to cater for an average of two apprentices each from a workshop who completed their service together. Ninety-nine percent of the apprentices aspired to establish their own sewing shop in Accra after training because they were optimistic that business would be better in Accra than in their home towns. It is recommended that, The Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association (GNTDA) in consultation with the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) Apprentice Training Board and the Ghana Education Service (GES), develop common syllabus and text books for the Apprenticeship System. Seamstresses should emphasize the importance of fabric grain as well as principles of design as applied in garment design. This would equip the apprentice seamstress with better knowledge in garment design and construction.
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    Antiplasmodial Activity of Medicinal Plant Preparations T610 and S076 Using Plasmodium Falciparum in Vitro Culture System
    (University of Ghana, 2001-08) Appiah-Opong, R.; Gyang, F.N.; Nyarko, A.K.; Dodoo, D.; University of Ghana, College of Humanities, School of Arts, Department of Philosophy and Classics
    Some traditional medical practitioners use decoctions of the plants Tridax procumbens and Phyllanthus amarus, separately, to treat malaria in Ghana. These plants have however, not been investigated scientifically to establish their antimalarial activities. In this study, inhibition of chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum uptake o f 3H-hypoxanthine was used as an in vitro assay to assess the antiplasmodial activities of aqueous, ethanolic, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts of Tridax procumbens and Phyllanthus amarus. Chloroquine was used as a reference antimalarial drug. Cytotoxicities of the extracts to red blood cells were also investigated. Furthermore, the aqueous extracts of the plants were evaluated for haem polymerisation inhibitory activity. The results show that high concentrations of chloroquine inhibited the uptake of 3Hhypoxanthine by Plasmodium falciparum, confirming the chloroquine-resistant nature of the parasites used. Both plant extracts also demonstrated antiplasmodial activity against the chloroquine resistant plasmodial parasites. Among the various extracts, the lowest 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 24.8 and 11.7 |ig/ml corresponded to the aqueous and ethanolic extracts, respectively, of Phyllanthus amarus. For Tridax procumbens, the lowest IC50 values were 225.0 and 143.4 |J.g/ml for the ethanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively. Unlike chloroquine, none of the extracts inhibited haem polymerisation. Within the concentration range used, the least cytotoxicity to RBCs was observed in the aqueous extracts of both plants, the ethanolic extract of Phyllanthus amarus and the ethyl acetate extract of Tridax procumbens. These results suggest that the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of both plants were more effective as antiplasmodial preparations than the other extracts.